Bioremediation of Engine Oil Polluted Soil by the Tropical White Rot Fungus,Lentinus squarrosulus Mont. (Singer)

Abstract

This study was conducted to test the efficacy of an indigenous white rot fungus Lentinus squarrosulus in degrading engine oil in soil. Flasks containing sterilized garden soil (100 g) moistened with 75% distilled water (w/v) were contaminated with engine oil 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40% w/w concentrations, inoculated with L. squarrosulus and incubated at room temperature for 90 days. Levels of organic matter, pH, total hydrocarbon and elemental content (C, Cu, Fe, K, N, Ni, Zn and available P) were determined post-fungal treatment. Results indicate that contaminated soils inoculated with L. squarrosulus had increased organic matter, carbon and available phosphorus, while the nitrogen and available potassium was reduced. A relatively high percentage degradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) was observed at 1% engine oil concentration (94.46%), which decreased to 64.05% TPH degradation at 40% engine oil contaminated soil after 90 days of incubation. The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni recovered from straw/fungal biomass complex increased with the increase of engine-oil contamination and bio-accumulation by the white-rot fungus. The improvement of nutrient content values as well as the bioaccumulation of heavy metals at all levels of engine oil concentrations tested through inoculations with L. squarrosulus is of importance for the bioremediation of engine-oil polluted soils.

Aerobic Degradation of Petroleum Components by Microbial Consortia

“…Hence, the fungus can be employed in decontaminating environment polluted with engine oil. In a similar study, Adenipekun and Isikhuemhen [62] revealed the ability of white rot fungus, L. squarrosulus to improve the nutrient contents of the engine oil contaminated soil and an accumulation of Fe, Zn and Ni to an appreciable extent.…”

Nutrient Requirements and Fermentation Conditions for Mycelia and Crude Exo-Polysaccharides Production by <i>Lentinus squarrosulus</i>

“…The fruit body, if harvested within 3 days of fruiting, is used as a meat substitute. It was not until recently that research started to emerge on its application in food [2], medicine [3] [4] and bioremediation [5]. Proximate analysis shows that both the cap and stipe are rich in proteins, sugars, fiber, lipids, amino acids, vitamins B, C, and D, and minerals [6].…”

Bioremediation of soil contaminated with spent and fresh cutting fluids by Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries) Quelet

“…TPH is lost at 10% level of contamination through consumption, utilization or breakdown of the cutting fluid contaminated soil into simple compound that are not harmful to the environment. There is possibility of fungus degrading TPH at a level of contamination as low as 1% engine oil concentration if the incubation period is elongated (Adenipekun and Isikhuemhen, 2008). The highest cation exchange capacity value was obtained at 10% level of contamination suggest that bioremediation best occurs at this level of contamination.…”